SOUTH AFRICA

Three2Six

South Africa is the country with the highest number of migrants and refugees coming from the countries of Central Africa.

Three2six is an innovative program of social promotion and inclusive education that guarantees access to education for refugee and migrant children in South Africa who, due to the war and estrangement from their country, have interrupted their studies or have never been able to attend school.

The name “Three2six” comes from the time of the school, from 3 to 6 p.m., implemented in the Institutes that participate to the program.

The project has been running since 2008 providing quality education and encouraging integration, inclusion, diversity of expression, understanding and giving voice to the children. The program provided more than 2300 kids with basic skills (reading, writing and mathematics) for their integration into formal schooling and “Life Skills” for their holistic personal growth

In addition to school activities, the program also provides for a “Three2Six Holiday Program” where the children, with the collaboration of young volunteers from other countries, participate in recreational activities in an environment where they feel safe and understood. The program staff is largely composed of refugee teachers who are valued as educators and cultural mediators.

In a network with other schools, the Marist communities provide new and effective ways to support children who are marginalized and vulnerable. FMSI, in cooperation with private donors and agencies, supports the running costs of the project activities and staff.

The Institute of the Marist Brothers (FMS: Fratres Maristae a Scholis), founded in France in 1817 by St. Marcellin Champagnat, is the second largest congregation of Brothers in the Catholic Church.

An encounter with a dying young man, Jean-Baptiste Montagne, who knew nothing of his faith and was barely able to read, proved to be the defining moment for Marcellin Champagnat. Soon after the boy’s death, St. Marcellin put into motion his vision. “We need brothers,” he said, who will give their lives in the service of children and young people, especially those most in need and neglected by society.

Champagnat, a man of great faith and trust in God’s providence, dedicated his early followers to Mary, sending them among young people, especially those least favored, to “make Jesus known and loved.” The initial focus of his work was to provide education for children in rural, areas since this was a pressing need at the time, and provided an opportunity for their faith development.

Today the community numbers about 3,000 members. They are joined by a network of nearly 40,000 lay people and reach over 700,000 children and young people in 80 countries. You will find this Marist network working in schools and universities, pastoral and social centers, youth movements and youth programs and wherever they find young people most in need.